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BLM – Battle Mountain District
District Manager’s Report
The Battle Mountain District Office (BMD) manages approximately 10.5 million acres of
public land within Eureka, Esmeralda, Lander and Ney Counties. In addition to historic
mining and ranching, the BMD supports wildlife, livestock, wild horses & burros, and
dispersed/developed recreation.
“The BM is committed to providing efficient, effective and environmentally responsible
management of your public lands, “Doug Furtado District Manager.
1
Introduction – Battle Mountain District 2017 Priorities
The enclosed report contains project updates from each of our major departments, milestones
met in 2016, and projections/goals for 2017. Questions regarding anything within this report
should be directed to the District Public Affairs Officer, Kyle Hendrix, at (775) 635-4000.
Minerals Management
o Mount Lewis Field Office – page 2 ……Tonopah Field Office – page 4/5
Lands and Realty
o Mount Lewis Field Office - page 4 …… Tonopah Field Office - page 5
Rangeland Management
o Mount Lewis Field Office - page 6 ….... Tonopah Field Office - page 7
Battle Mountain District Partnerships ………………………………….. page 8
Wild Horse & Burro ……………………………………………..…….. page 9
Sage Grouse Conservation ……………………………………………... page 10
Forestry, Fuels and Fire ……………………………………………...… page 13
Special Events/Outreach ……………………………………………..… page 14
Recreation ……………………………………………………………… page 16
On behalf of the Battle Mountain District Employees, we will continue to seek out the best
available tools to manage our public lands effectively and collaboratively with our many
partners. Below is a list of the State Director’s 2017 priorities which will guide our work:
Improve the health and productivity of the land to support the BLM multiple-use mission.
Cultivate community-based conservation, citizen-centered stewardship, and partnership
through consultation, cooperation, and communication.
Pursue excellence in business practices, improve accountability to our stakeholders, and
deliver enhanced service to our customers.
– Doug Furtado, Battle Mountain District Manager
ORGANIZATIONAL READINESS (The foundation of our work).
PERMITTING & COMPLIANCE (Our core mission)
INVEST IN PARTNERSHIPS (Our collaboration)
MAINTAIN HEALTHY
LANDSCAPES (Desired effects of our
mission)
2
Minerals Management
Mount Lewis Field Office – Major Project Updates
Barrick Cortez Gold Mines — BLM is reviewing one amendment to the Plan for this project
located about 35 miles southeast of Battle Mountain. The amendment proposes changes and
adjustments to activities, operations, and ore shipment, including two additional declines that
support underground mining activity within the plan boundary of 16,700 acres. It also proposes
to increase the plan boundary to 17,394 acres, expand underground mining, reconfigure facilities,
and infiltration galleries. BLM has determined that the Amendment will be analyzed under an
EIS. The Project’s s impacts to Greater sage-grouse will be addressed through Barrick’s Bank
Enabling Agreement.
Newmont Greater Phoenix — BLM is preparing a ‘camera ready’ version of the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Greater Phoenix Project at this existing facility.
The EPA is involved in reviewing of the Draft Environmental Statement (DEIS).
Halliburton Pleasant View Mine Project—This project is located about 14 miles southeast of
Battle Mountain; baseline data is
being collected to support a Plan
that would propose open –pit
barite mining within a plan
boundary of 1,031 acres with 306
acres of surface disturbance.
McEwen Mining Gold Bar —
The Plan for this project, located
28 miles northwest of Eureka, has
been accepted and all baseline
reports are complete. A Draft EIS
was put out for public review and
comment on March 6, 2017 and
the 45 day comment period closed
on April 18, 2017. The Project
includes approximately 5,071
acres and 1,300 acres of surface
disturbance. The EIS incorporates
numerous applicant-committed
environmental protection measures that provide faunal protection including measures to avoid
and minimize impacts to Greater sage-grouse.
Barrick Horse Canyon/Cortez Unified Exploration Plan —This Project is located about 45
miles southeast of Battle Mountain and includes 549 acres of surface disturbance. There are 12
acres of surface disturbance associated with the exploration activity. Barrick specifically chose
McEwen Mining’s Gold Bar Project Site. This project is still in the planning stages
with a draft Environmental Impact Statement currently out for public comment.
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the location of this surface disturbance to avoid impacts to Greater sage-grouse. This project has
now been authorized.
Klondex Gold and Silver Mining Company Fire Creek Project/Fire Creek Mitigation —
While the Fire Creek Mine Project has been authorized, Greater sage-grouse mitigation is
required. BLM is working with Klondex to prepare an EA based upon applicant-committed
environmental protection measures tailored to implement Required Design Features. Klondex
has proposed a riparian exclosure, repairing head cuts, slowing stream flow, and improving
livestock distribution.
Mount Lewis Field Office project specific efforts during 2017:
McEwen Mining, Inc. Gold Bar Project - BLM plans to complete the Draft and Final EIS
documents, including public comment and response. This will allow BLM to complete
its required decision-making during 2017. The public comment period will end on April
17th, 2017.
For the Newmont Greater Phoenix Project, BLM plans to complete the Draft and Final
EIS documents, including public comment and response. This will allow BLM to
complete its required decision-making during the year.
For the Barrick Cortez Deep South Project, BLM plans to complete the Draft and Final
EIS documents and publish the Final Environmental Impact Statement in the Federal
Register. Decision-making will not occur until 2018.
For the Klondex Gold and Silver Mining Company Fire Creek Mine Mitigation Project,
BLM will continue to work with Klondex to prepare an EA based upon applicant-
committed environmental protection measures implementing required design features to
achieve a net conservation gain for Greater sage-grouse.
Minerals Management
Tonopah Field Office – Major Project Updates
Corvus Gold Nevada North Bullfrog Exploration Project — The Project is located six miles
northwest of Beatty. Preliminary results from exploration indicate favorable values and Corvus
Gold Nevada is continuing their exploration.
Gemfield Resources Ltd. Gemfield Project — Metallic Goldfield has completed the majority
of the required baseline studies for the proposed open pit mine about 1.5 miles north of
Goldfield. The Plan of Operations (PoO) has been submitted and is currently under review. It is
anticipated that the original PoO boundary of 1,918 acres and surface disturbance of 1,098 acres
will remain the same. A public scoping meeting for this Project was conducted on January 10,
2014. Chapters One, Two and Three of the EIS are being drafted. The ground water model was
4
completed and is being reviewed for results. Additional updates to baselines will be provided
over the next ten weeks. The NEPA process will proceed once all updates have been received
and accepted.
Kings Valley Minerals LLC — Kings Valley Minerals LLC is proposing to conduct
exploration operations for potassium in the Clayton Valley area on approximately 25,440 acres.
There will be 12 drill holes. Surface disturbance is estimated to be about 120 acres. Cost
recovery has been determined and the Tonopah Field Office (TFO) is waiting on the posting
from Kings Valley.
Round Mountain Gold Corp., Plan of Operations Amendment (Phase W) — Round Mtn.
has proposed a modification to their current Plan of Operations that would include the expansion
of the open pit. Baselines for the proposal are currently being conducted. It is anticipated that
the PoO Amendment will be submitted to the office in the next 4 to 8 weeks.
Mineral Ridge Gold LLC, Mary LC Expansion Satellite Deposit Plan of Operations
Amendment — Five miles northwest of Silver Peak, Nevada Mineral Ridge Gold LLC (MRG)
proposes a series of changes to their existing Plan of Operations. MRG proposes to expand the
heap leach pad and increase the size of the existing process pond capacity and include a toll ore
area to receive off site material. Baseline studies are being conducted.
The BMD mining programs will continue the following efforts in 2017:
Conducting NEPA analysis by preparing an Environmental Assessment in order to
process the annual Oil and Gas Lease Sale
Conducting compliance inspections for Fluid Mineral Projects
Process mineral material disposals and conduct mineral material inspections at existing
facilities
Review exploration Notices and conduct inspections of exploration activity. BLM
inspectors conduct routine inspections of reclamation activity and reclaimed sites
throughout the year
Assess hazardous and non-hazardous materials sites and remediate hazards as necessary
Lands and Realty
Mount Lewis Field Office
Communication Sites — ATT is upgrading their equipment and tower on Mt. Lewis to improve
the quality of service to their customers and surrounding rural areas. The communication sites
located at Kingston and Hickison summit have been sold by American Tower of Nevada
Corporation to Commnet of Nevada. It is anticipated that this, too, will increase the quality of
service to customers and surrounding rural areas as well as along the highways of RT 50, SR 376
and surrounding secondary roads. A mountain top communication site plan for Mt. Lewis and
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Prospect Peak will be finalized this summer. These plans will bring each user into conformity
with each other to ensure there are no conflicts in frequency, use or non-compliance.
McEwen Mining: Gold Bar Project —This Project involves obtaining Right of Ways (ROWs)
for two access points known as 3 Bars Road and Roberts Creek Road located west of Eureka in
support of the anticipated Gold Bar Project. A water pipeline from a private well would be
constructed along the northern part of Roberts Creek Road into the plan boundary.
The Yomba Shoshone Indian Tribe Project —An draft EA to assess the construction of a new
water tank, water service lines and additional fire hydrants to service the Yomba Indian
Reservation southwest of Austin is being reviewed. A final EA and FONSI is anticipated in the
next 3-6 months.
Land Speed---North American Eagle has applied for an Serial Recreation Permit (SRP). BLM
will begin processing the application through an EA in hopes of permitting it so testing can begin
on the ground in the fall of 2017. The activities are proposed to take place on private and public
lands in the Diamond Valley playa area of Eureka County.
Tonkin Reservoir--- The reservoir has undergone renovations for stabilization of its dirt high
wall. The wall was in disrepair and was in danger of collapse. Barrick drained the reservoir,
fixed the wall and the spill way and refilled it. The reservoir is now in much better shape and is
operational for recreational use. The western half of the reservoir is privately owned by Barrick,
but the eastern half and the spill way is public land. The entire reservoir is unrestricted and used
recreationally though.
General---Various Rights of Ways are ready and will be renewed throughout the summer and
fall as necessary and requested.
Tonopah Field Office – Lands
and Realty
Manhattan Road ROW — This project
has been issued to Nye County and will
start construction in the near future.
Silver Peak Road ROW — The office has
issued a ROW to Esmeralda County for the
Silver Peak Road from Highway 95 to
Silver Peak. It is currently under
construction.
Gold Point Land Sale — Esmeralda
County has shown an interest in the
purchase of the town of Gold Point. The
sale of the Land is currently under the
This photo was taken from the Mt. Brock Communication Site that sits at
7,100 feet above the town of Tonopah. This site houses equipment
managed by Sprint, Version, National Weather Service and more.
6
internal review process. A site visit by the Washington Office (WO) team to conduct a validity
exam was conducted. A meeting with SHPO was conducted and a cultural mitigation plan will
be developed. The validity exam is in its final review process. BLM will be conducting a
HAZMAT exam in the near future.
Beatty Bike Trails — The master plan has been reviewed and the Plan of Development is
currently being developed.
Rangeland Management
Mount Lewis Field Office
Diamond Valley Water Adjudication — The Diamond Valley near Eureka, Nevada, marries a
diverse and flourishing natural ecology with a picturesque quilt of American farmland. This
scene, more than any other, represents Nevada: hard working agricultural roots on a seemingly
harsh yet breathtaking landscape. Those who use the valley know hidden in canyons and
mountain draws are bubbling springs and streams which produce forage and provide water for
recreationalists, wildlife, livestock operators, and wild and free roaming horses. In order to
better understand the quality and vigor of these important water sources, Battle Mountain District
completed a water adjudication process, assessing 66 springs and streams in the Diamond
Valley. Through collaboration with the Elko District and State Office, as well as internal
collaboration between Rangeland Management specialists, Wild Horse and Burro Specialists,
Environmental Protection Specialists, and even Fire Management personnel, this project was
completed in mere weeks. This collaboration made it
possible to preserve over 60 springs and streams nestled
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deep in the Diamond Mountains for public land users. The MLFO after completing their part is
awaiting the nest step.
Three-Bars Restoration Project —This project focuses on landscape level restoration in the
Three-Bars/Roberts Mountain area northwest of Eureka. This area contains high value resources
for Greater sage-grouse, Lahontan cutthroat trout, mule deer and other wildlife species. This
area also boasts largely intact native or perennial plant communities and is at high risk of
catastrophic wildfire largely due to pinyon-juniper encroachment. The Battle Mountain District
(BMD) initiated an EIS analyzing numerous restoration and fuels treatments within a 750,000
acre footprint. The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) as well as Eureka County are
cooperating agencies with BLM on this project.
The Record of Decision is drafted and being prepared for publication. Upon the signing of the
decision, the BLM will seek formalized partnerships to leverage funding and support for multi-
year implementation of this important project.
Argenta Allotment —In 2015 the BMD, with leadership from the National Riparian Service
Team, worked collaboratively with the permittees to implement a court approved settlement
agreement. The data from the first year was compiled into a Monitoring Report by the NRST and
provided to the public on March 21, 2016. As provided in the settlement agreement, a Range
Improvement EA and final Decision was issued. These range improvement fences would exclude
livestock grazing from approximately 40 acres of BLM administered land. Fall end-of-year
monitoring with the CMG occurred in October 2016 and the end of year meeting was held in
November 2016. Currently the end of year report to the public is being drafted. The MLFO is
beginning the Next EA, which is an allotment boundary fence.
Looking ahead to 2017: Range Land Health Assessments in Sage Grouse Priority
Habitat—Argenta, Battle Mountain Complex Permit renewals are being completed by the State
Permit Renewal Team ( SPRT). All AIM data and final upland data was collected and compiled
in 2016 by the MLFO and SPRT staff. Final Riparian data is scheduled to be collected spring of
2017. A final decision is expected to be completed by August 2018. Reese River Complex,
Santa FE/Ferguson, North Grass Valley Complex, and Cottonwood are being developed on the
MLFO 5 year plan. Currently the Rangeland Health Assessment (RHA) for these multiple
complexes in the MLFO is being developed. This is in accordance with the new sage grouse
ARMPA prioritization process.
Rangeland - Tonopah Field Office
Beatty Springs — Five springs were approved during 2011 and three of the springs will be
under construction in 2017. The USDA provided the designs for the springs and NDOW will be
providing a contract for the development. It is anticipated that development will start in fall of
2017.
Water Hauls — Multiple water hauls were approved for the 2016 grazing year in the Stone
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Cabin Allotment to allow for better distribution of livestock. The TFO and BMD Staff worked
with the permittee and Environmental groups to issue a decision that was not appealed and
provided access of water to livestock while minimizing the potential for negative impacts to the
environment.
Spring /Stream Fencing — The BLM worked with local permittees and others with water rights
around nine spring sources within the Tonopah Field Office that are being heavily impacted by
wild horses and burros. This project will protect spring heads while allowing water to be
available for use of wildlife and livestock. This will help these areas recover while still providing
water to wildlife. One project was completed in February near the town of Goldfield in Nye
County. The project has shown great progress. Funding is expected to acquire materials in 2017
and remaining projects will be started at the appropriate time to not negatively affect the horses
or burros.
Looking ahead to 2017: Range Land Health Assessments in Sage Grouse Priority Habitat
— Francisco, Smoky, Ralston, Stone Cabin, Reveille and Monitor allotments are being
developed in the TFO 5 year plan. After the signing of the Greater sage grouse Decision to
amend the RMP reconsideration of the priorities of allotment to concentrate on are Little Fish
Lake, Monitor and Fish Lake Valley allotments. This is due to Greater sage-grouse (GSG)
Priority Habitat and Bi-Stat Sage Grouse Habitat.
Battle Mountain District Partnerships
Noxious Weed Control — In 2016, the BMD inventoried 300,000 acres for the presence of
Invasive Plants and/or Noxious Weeds, applied treatments on 2,307 acres, and evaluated 400
acres of previously conducted weed treatments.
The Southern Nye County Conservation District continues to complete Tamarisk control in
support of the Amargosa Toad Habitat Conservation Plan Agreement throughout Oasis Valley
and within Beatty town proper.
The Tonopah Conservation District, in cooperation with Tri-County Weed District, has
currently treated over 2,500 acres of noxious weeds throughout the District.
The Diamond Valley Weed District has treated approximately 200 acres of noxious weeds
throughout Eureka County.
9
Additional Update: Finally, the BMD continues to work on Tamarisk control in the Fish Creek
drainage in Lander County. Cheat-grass also continues to be chemically (Plateau®) and
biologically (livestock) treated on about 1,000 acres per year primarily in Eureka and Lander
counties. Cheat-grass treatments are a priority in maintaining and achieving healthy rangelands
and curbing the danger from wildfires.
Wild Horse and Burro Program
Reveille Wild Horse Gather — On January 30, 2017 the BMD began conducting a wild horse
gather of the Reveille Herd Management Area (HMA). The gather concluded on February 3 after
151 wild horses had been gathered and 30 mares were treated with fertility control and released
back onto the range. Of the 30 mares treated, 24 had received fertility control from the previous
gather of this area – these numbers are exciting for a number of reasons; the gather team was
able to identify each of the mares, refresh the effectiveness of the drug through re-application
and collect essential follow-up data enabling additional research, establishing baselines and
trends, etc. Although this is by no means the first solid test of PZP for the BMD, it does mark
another important step forward in realizing our goals as stewards of public land resources in a
Mares from the Reveille HMA being released back onto the range after receiving fertility control treatment.
10
multi-use environment. The data collected during this gather will allow the Tonopah Field
Office to pursue a darting program which will hopefully extend the time before another
helicopter gather is needed, while keeping reproductive rates reduced below normal levels.
Inventory and Resource Flights — In 2016, the TFO and MLFO completed inventory flights
on nine HMAs, including a large cooperative effort with BLM’s Carson City District to
inventory important areas for Bi-State Sage Grouse, and a cooperative effort with the Ely and
Elko Districts to inventory the Diamond Complex. The MLFO also completed resource flights
on seven HMAs. All total, 4.75 million acres were flown, covering nearly 6,000 flight miles.
Wild Horse & Burro: Looking ahead in 2017 —The Mount Lewis Field Office plans to work
towards implementation of the fertility control darting project on the Rocky Hills HMA in 2017.
This would only involve the application of ZonaStat-H, a fertility control vaccine, and would not
have a removal element included. The field office would return to apply follow-up booster
treatments with the goal of gradually reducing population growth in this HMA. The application
of ZonaStat-H would be accomplished through remote darting. Monitoring of wild horse and
burro habitat, movement, use patterns, and forage/water availability will continue throughout
2017.
Inventory flights will be completed for HMAs that are located between U.S. Highway 50 and
State Highway 6. This will include approximately 9 HMAs and 6 USFS Wild Horse and Burro
Territories. Additional inventory flights in Esmeralda and Nye Counties will include 4 HMAs.
Additional resource flights may be completed in other HMAs.
The MLFO is currently working on a wild horse Herd Management Area Plan (HMAP) on the
South Shoshone HMA in Lander County that is within greater sage grouse Primary Habitat
Management Areas (PHMA). The HMAP will also include an Environmental Assessment for
future gather and removal operations and population growth suppression programs including
such tools as fertility control vaccine.
In 2017, the BMD will continue to submit priority areas for wild horse and burro gathers in order
to achieve Appropriate Management Levels and implement fertility control measures.
There are currently eight BMD HMAs that have been treated with PZP-22, with 6 of them
having been treated at least twice. BMD will work towards completing plans for potential
fertility control remote darting programs in up to four of these HMAs. In 2016, the BMD
explored partnerships with various entities to increase the success of these efforts and will
continue to encourage partnerships where beneficial to the management of the wild horse and
burro program.
Sage-Grouse Conservation & Land Use Plan Amendment
Implementation
Fire and Invasive Assessment Team (FIAT) — FIAT was initiated in October of 2014 in an
effort to address two of the biggest threats to sage-grouse habitat: wildland fire and invasive
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annual grass. The FIAT effort also addressed expansion of pinyon-juniper into sagebrush
habitats. The BMD has identified five priority areas as part of the FIAT process. Within these
five areas, priorities have been established for wildland fire suppression, hazardous fuels
reduction, pinyon-juniper treatments, emergency stabilization/rehabilitation, and habitat
restoration.
BMD Partners with Boy Scouts on Sage Grouse Conservation — Sage Grouse conservation
is one of the top priorities for the Bureau of Land
Management in 2017 and the agency is constantly
looking for partnership opportunities that lend
themselves to this effort. In December of 2016 one of
these opportunities presented itself to the BLM’s Battle
Mountain District (BMD) as a phone call came into the
office from Ryan Winrod, a local Battle Mountain Boy
Scout who had taken an interest in Sage Grouse and was
in search of a project to complete his requirements for
becoming an Eagle Scout. After contacting
BMD, Ryan worked closely with their experts to develop
a project plan. Key elements of the plan included;
selecting locations within the district that are considered
primary habitat for sage grouse, establishing a
conservation method that would be achievable/impactful
given his timeframes, and coordinating with Nevada
Area Boy Scout Council to have his project approved.
After reviewing potential project sites and
methods, Ryan and Dave Davis, BLM Wildlife
Biologist, decided that fence marking would best fit the
needs of the bird and Ryan's project. Research has
shown that sage grouse have a difficult time seeing fences in low light levels and sometimes
suffer injury or death after collision. Research also shows that installing these reflective fence
marking reduces collision death by as much as
80%. On March 10th Ryan, BLM staff, and local
Boy Scouts headed into the field and marked
nearly three miles of fence located in primary
sage grouse habitat. The District is thrilled with
how the project went and would like to
congratulate Ryan Winrod on achieving the
rank of Eagle Scout!
Secretarial Order 3336—In response to
Secretarial Order 3336 the Desert Basin Fire
Management Zone (DBZ) has implemented its
“Step-up” plan and has ordered additional fire suppression resources for periods of predicted
Two Scouts help Ryan install reflective fence markers.
12
lightning and high fire danger. The DBZ also has two Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATS)
stationed at the Battle Mountain Tanker Base, and is prepositioning resources to high priority
sage-grouse habitat for periods of predicted lightning and high fire danger.
Programmatic Roadside Fuel Break EA—The BMD recently published a programmatic EA
for review and public comment for implementing roadside fuels breaks in priority areas across
the District. Implementation would be done in cooperation with the Nevada Department of
Transportation, counties, and private land owners as appropriate. Lander and Eureka Counties
has been approached and is eager to work cooperatively with the BLM on these fuel breaks as a
“Pilot Project” to work out the details. Success with Lander and Eureka Counties will make the
process of working with the other counties more streamlined.
Sagebrush Ecosystem Management EA —This programmatic EA is currently in the
development stage with the comment period on
the proposed action closing on November 23,
2016. Completing the EA in 2017 will be one
of the many priorities held by the MLFO. Key
goals of this project include; decreasing the
severity and intensity of future wildland fires
by reducing the hazardous fuel loads;
sustaining and improving sagebrush plant
communities; and managing Phase 1 and
targeted Phase II pinyon-juniper stands in
sage-grouse habitat. This project is district
wide and includes portions of Lander, Eureka,
Nye, and Esmeralda Counties.
Other Projects —The FEIS for the 3 Bars project was issued in October 2016. This project has
a suite of restoration treatments, with an emphasis on Greater sage-grouse.
Barrick Band Enabling Agreement — The MLFO will be working with Barrick and agency
partners to develop/implement mitigation projects to offset future mining impacts in the Cortez
Mining District.
Gold Bar Mitigation Plan — The BMD will be working collaboratively with McEwen Mining
and other partners to develop a mitigation plan for the proposed Gold Bar project.
13
Forestry, Fuels, and Fire Programs
Forestry
· 507 vegetative (fuel wood) permits sold as of 3/17
· 1,185 tons of biomass utilized,
· One commercial woodcutting area established,
· Three commercial native seed collection permits issued
Rehabilitation
· 3835 acres of aerial seeding on the 2016 Carico Fire.
· 558 acres of drill seeding on the 2016 Carico Fire, and
· Approximately 9 miles of exclosure fencing scheduled for install to protect seeding treatments
on the Carico Fire.
· Monitoring is ongoing for the Elephant, Cowboy 2, Willow Creek, and Goat Peak fires.
· Noxious weed treatments on the Carico, Cowboy 2, Elephant, and Willow Creek Fires totaling
400 acres.
Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)
· 194 acres of hand thinning on the Eureka project,
· 22 acres of pile burning treatment on the Lida project,
· 2,221 acres of biological treatment on the Austin project,
· 1,140 acres of chemical treatment on the Austin project,
· 84 acres of thinning and piling on the Ione project,
· 16 acres of pile burning on the Ione project,
· 633 acres of seeding treatment on the Yomba project,
· 633 acres of mechanical treatment (mowing) on the Yomba project, and
· 4,500 acres of WUI projects monitored.
Non-Wildland Urban Interface
· 1694 acres of mechanical treatment (mastication, lop and scatter) on the Sulphur Springs
project,
· 400 acres of herbicide on the Sulphur Springs project
· 3,300 acres of lop and scatter in a cooperative agreement with NDOW,
· 1,781 acres of fuel breaks on the Boone Creek project,
· 1,200 acres of herbicide treatment on the Boone Creek project,
· 2,075 acres of fuel breaks in the Roadside Fuel Break project,
· 300 acres of fuel breaks, and 500 acres of lop and scatter thinning on the 3 Bars project,
· 387 acres of fuel breaks on the Seven mile project, and
· 4,500 acres of treatments monitored
Preparedness
· Staffing 6 Engines, 1 Dozers, 1 WTs, 3 BCs at 2 stations for the 2017 season.
·2016 Fire Statistics
· Lightning Fires: 4 for less than an acre
· Human Fires: 15 for 5,473 acres
14
· Sage grouse acres burned: 4,407 ac Core/PPH, 914 ac Priority/PGH and 4,872 ac of
General Habitat
Aviation
· Battle Mountain Air Tanker Base is staffed and ready to service Northern Nevada with Heavy
air tankers.
· Agreements and equipment are in place to open remote Single Engine Air Tanker bases in
Eureka, Austin and Tonopah.
Special Events/Outreach in 2017
Sixth Grade Environmental Day at Mill Creek
Seven and Eighth Grade Environmental Day
Battle Mountain BLM & Newmont Community Clean Up
Battle Mountain Schools Fire Education
Eureka County Fair & Fire Education
National Public Lands Day (in Battle Mountain)
Fire Safety Event with Te Moak Tribe
Classroom presentations (throughout the year)
Goldfield Days Parade
Kingston Community Day
Nye County Schools Fire Education
Special Events- Some Highlights from 2016
National Public Lands Day — The BLM’s TFO conducted a desert clean up in observation of
the 23rd annual celebration of National Public Lands Day which is the nation’s largest volunteer
effort for public lands! For this year’s event the TFO chose an old Recreation and Pulic Purposes
Permit (R&PP) that expired in 1989 for the project site. Over time there had been trash dumped
in the area, old fencing had become delapidated, and large dirt barriers that were once used for
the R&PP needed to be taken down. To accomplish this large scale clean up the BLM partnered
with Nye County and worked together to restore an area that had become unappealing back to a
cleaner more natural landscape. In 2017 National Public Lands Day will be hosted in Battle
Mountain – recreation staff are currently in the proces of selecting a project site!
Class Room Presentations — On December 8, 2016 Dr. Justin Ferris, Battle Mountain
District's new Surface Water Hydrologist, gave presentations to three sixth grade classes at our
local middle school. The 6th graders have been focusing on how weather can affect the earth's
surface and reached out to the Battle Mountain BLM office to see if we had an expert that would
be willing to do presentations. We sent in the big guns - Justin has been working in the
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hydrology field for 20 years and wrote his
dissertation on the effects erosion has on
Mars! The presentations began with an
explanation of what hydrology is and what
someone in that profession does on a daily
basis. Then Justin moved into erosion;
what does it mean?; where can we see the
effects of erosion in Battle Mountain?; and
what role do storms/earthquakes play in
shaping the earth's surface? The children
watched different videos of mild storms
and earthquakes as Dr. Ferris narrated with
things to watch for. After a discussion of
the different types of extreme weather we
see here in Battle Mountain Justin played videos and virtual simulations of more intense weather
such as tornados & tsunamis which the students really enjoyed (the more destruction the better
for these 6th graders). The Battle Mountain Middle school staff were thrilled with the BLM's our
involvement and impressed with Justin's presentations...this will be the first of many
presentations that Dr. Ferris gives to our local middle school students!
Mill Creek 6th Grade Environmental Day —When you have a good thing going, typically you
work hard to maintain the momentum. A special event running for 5 years would be
extraordinary and hitting the 10 year mark would be cause for celebration. On 31 May, 2016, the
Battle Mountain BLM office celebrated over 25 years of hosting the Mill Creek 6th Grade
Environmental Day! Dorothy Harvey,
an IT specialist for the BLM in Battle
Mountain, has been involved with
planning this event for all 25 years and
had this to say, "We have seen several
BLM employees in this office over the
years that actually attended this event as
sixth graders! It is very gratifying to
know that today's kids love it as much
as the kids from 25 years ago." This
year’s event kicked off at 9:00AM as
two buses filled with 6th grade Battle
Mountain Middle School students
pulled into the Mill Creek Camp Ground just south of town. The children were excited and
rushed to see the different activities waiting for them. Specialists from the BLM and the Nevada
Outdoor School were ready with six different stations which the children rotated through. We are
getting excited to host this event in 2017 with all new educational stations for our local 6th grade
classes!
A BLM archeologist puts on a tool making demonstration
Hands fly up as Justin asks the class a question – What do
you think erosion is?
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Recreation – Highlights From 2016
Shoshone OHV Trail Maintence – Battle Mountain BLM parterned with the Nevada
Conservation Corps on a trail maintenance project for this professionally designed OHV trail
system. Work included improvements to existing trails, rehabing portions that had been
degraded, and repairing/covering side trails that had been made by the public. The BMDO was
fortunate to partner with the NCC on several projects this year and will be looking to do the same
in 2017. If you ride OHVs come check out the newly improved Shoshone Trail System!
Vegas to Reno Off Road Race — This event represents the longest off-road race held in the
United States and the Battle Mountain District played an important role in this year’s event to
include analysis of the course, pre-monitoring, and post-monitoring. Competitors included a
dusty mix of cars, trucks, motorcycles, and UTV’s vying for their place in this 650 mile desert
race. For the first time ever race coordinators made this a two day event with an overnight stop
for racers in Tonopah, NV. For that day/night the population of Tonopah tripled, going from
2,450 to approximately 7,450 which had incredible economic benefits for the area.
Hickison Campsite Restoration Project — On August 13th, the Nevada Conservation Corps
(NCC) and BLM’s Battle Mountain District completed a four day campiste restoration project at
the Hickison Petroglyphs Recreation Area. Key aspects of the project included installing new fire
pits, realignment of concrete parking barriers, repainting all picnic tables, a full trash clean up,
and extensive trail maintenance. The group began their efforts just after sunrise each day,
scheduling the more physically intensive work in the cooler morning hours before the heat of the
day became an issue. “Providing and maintaining areas for recreation on our public lands will
always be a priority for us in the Battle Moutnain District” said Doug Furtado, Battle Mountain
District Manager. “In addition to the Hickison Campsite Restoration Project, we also partnered
Shoshone OHV trail is located just south of Battle Mountain and has nearly 50 miles of trails for riders at
every experience level.
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with NCC this year on restoration projects for Shoshone OHV and Copper basin Trail Systems
and look forward to more partnership opportunities in the furture.”
Battle Mountain District Recreation – 2017
Continued Special Recreation Permits 2017:
Vegas to Reno OHV Race
Beatty VFW OHV Poker Run
Rebelle Rally Women’s OHV Rally
Pahrump Nugget 250 OHV Race
Zero One Odysseys OHV Tours
Community Outreach:
National Public Lands day; location TBD Mt.
Lewis Field Office
GBI youth crew trail maintenance
Friends of Nevada Wilderness WSA
monitoring & LWC inventory
Tread Lightly and/or Leave No Trace Booth
Recreation Facilities Maintenance 2017:
Crescent Sand Dunes Fire Ring and Picnic
Table installs
Mill Creek Kiosk Update, Cleaning and
Maintenance
Hickison Trail Work, Kiosk Update, Cleaning
and Maintenance
Shoshone OHV Trail Work, Kiosk Update,
Cleaning and Maintenance
Rhyolite Signage, Cleaning and Maintenance
Replacement of BLM Road Signs:
The BLM is excited to announce
a new ‘look and feel’ for all
official BLM road signs! In 2017
both Mount Lewis and Tonopah
BLM field offices will be
replacing road signs around the
district for a brand new look.
This will be a process that takes
place throughout the year so
keep your eyes peeled!
Don’t forget to check out the Shoshone OHV trail in Battle Mountain, one of the best ATV trails systems in all of Nevada!